Pet Green Iguana Care

March 18, 2016March 18, 2016 ~ BackwaterReptiles

Green iguanas are probably the most well-known species of pet lizard. These green giants certainly make rewarding and worthwhile pets, but because they require special care, we urge you to take a look at our care sheet before purchasing one.

Listed below are some frequently asked questions that will teach you how to care for a hatchling pet green iguana as well as a full-grown one.

What do green iguanas look like?

If you haven’t figured it out yet, green iguanas are, well, green. They also can be shades of greyish green, pastel green, and even have hints of brown and orange to their scales. They have strong, angular heads with pronounced dewlaps and sharp, dorsal spines running from their neck down their back and tail. Overall, green iguanas are very prehistoric in appearance and many people think they look like miniature dinosaurs.

pet green iguana care — This is a hatchling pet green iguana. The dorsal spikes and dewlap are not as pronounced as they will become in this iguana’s later years.

How big will my green iguana get?

Hatchling green iguanas average around nine inches long, tail included. By the time it is about a year old, a healthy, properly cared for iguana can triple in size.

By maturity, green iguanas can reach up to six feet long. In general, males will be larger than females, both in terms of weight, length, and body thickness and girth. It’s not unheard of for a male to weigh twenty pounds! These are large lizards for sure.

How long will my green iguana live?

With proper care and husbandry, green iguanas are incredibly long-lived animals. If you raise your iguana from hatchling-hood, you can expect it to live to be at around fifteen years old on average, although twenty years is not uncommon.

What do green iguanas eat?

Although you certainly can feed your iguana meat and protein, we highly recommend that this be limited. Green iguanas are opportunists and will basically eat anything you give to them, but diets high in protein can and will cause renal failure in iguanas, so it’s best to feed your iguana fresh veggies and fruits from the market most of the time with only small amounts of meat/protein. A good rule of thumb is to give your iguana 80% vegetable matter, 10% fruit, and 10% protein.

The veggies that are healthiest for green iguanas are leafy and green. The Backwater Reptiles green iguanas love kale, swiss chard, spinach, and collard greens. Carrots, endive, bok choy, and grated zucchini are also good veggies.

We should mention that no matter what veggies you give your iguana, they must be chopped and prepared properly. Iguanas can’t chew, so it would make sense that hatchlings require small pieces. Adults can swallow bigger pieces, obviously, but you still want to make sure your iguana doesn’t choke. We recommend grating hard veggies and chopping leafy items.

The amount of fruit you give your green iguana should also be limited, just like the amount of protein. If you give your iguana too much fruit, it will get diarrhea, which is just no fun for either you or the iguana. Acceptable fruits to give your iguana are strawberries, figs, apple bits, and blueberries to name a few.

If preparing lizard chow from scratch is too much of a chore for you, there are also many commercially produced, pre-made lizard foods that are acceptable to feed to your iguana on a regular basis. However, we do recommend supplementing with fresh vegetables on a semi-regular basis.

What type of enclosure do I need for my green iguana?

Probably the most important thing to keep in mind when adopting a green iguana is that having a big lizard means having a big enclosure for it to live in. Because green iguanas can be six feet long when fully grown, you will need to have a space that is at least twelve feet long by six feet wide and at least six feet tall for an adult.

Babies should be kept in smaller homes. Young iguanas up to eighteen inches long will do great in a twenty gallon tank. This is a good size for them to learn that you are not a predator or threat to them and it is also the proper size to allow them room to roam and find their food and water dish locations.

We recommend having a special enclosure built for mature iguanas. If the climate is good, green iguanas can even live outdoors in caged pens. Just be sure that if you keep your iguana outdoors that the temperature does not get too hot or cold.

Because iguanas are arboreal, it’s imperative that your enclosure for both juveniles and adults contain plenty of climbing equipment. You can use fake plants/trees or construct ledges/shelves. But climbing will make your iguana feel at home, so don’t neglect to provide him/her objects to support this behavior.

Can I tame my green iguana?

The short and sweet answer to this question is YES! Green iguanas can definitely be tamed with patience and dedication. We’ve seen people who take their pet iguana on walks on a leash, people who let their iguana roam freely around the house, and even people who sit on the couch with their full-grown iguana and watch TV.

Taming your iguana really depends on how much time and effort you put forth into the relationship with your lizard. The more effort you put into training and familiarizing your iguana with you, the tamer it will become.

We recommend starting out with a hatchling that you can teach to recognize you. Then start giving the iguana a positive food/owner relationship and follow that up with lots of handling and taking the iguana out of its cage.

hatchling iguana iguana — If you handle your hatchling iguana on a regular basis, it will grow accustomed to being held.

Pet Green Iguana care – Conclusion

While pet baby green iguanas are adorable and tempting to buy, keep in mind that they grow quickly. Your cute baby iguana will rapidly turn into a six-foot-long Godzilla lizard with space requirements. Please keep that in mind when adopting.

If you are prepared to take on a lizard with such large space requirements, a green iguana just might be for you. These are gorgeous lizards with trainable dispositions and we think that if you can handle their size, iguanas make very gratifying pets.

Best Pet Aquatic Turtles

March 15, 2016March 3, 2023 ~ BackwaterReptiles

Personally, we think that all species of turtles make wonderful pets, whether they live mainly aquatic existences or prefer to live on land. However, for the purposes of this blog article, we will focus on detailing our top four aquatic turtle species that spend a great deal, if not most of their lives, in water.

Red Eared Slider (Trachemys s. elegans)

Probably the most common turtle sold in the U.S. at pet stores and from breeders is the red eared slider. These turtles make great classroom pets and are also great for outdoor pond enclosures.

Fun fact: red eared sliders get their names from the red ear patches located on both sides of their heads. While basking, they are also known for quickly sliding or scooting into the water if any perceived threat appears.

Keep in mind that red eared sliders start out very small as hatchlings, but will grow into a rather large-sized adult turtle. Hatchlings are anywhere from the size of a quarter to a silver dollar, whereas an adult turtle will average around twelve inches long.

Red eared sliders are very strong swimmers and will spend most of their time in the water, which means they will need a fairly large tank that holds water, just like all of the turtle species on this list. Make sure that there are plenty of spaces for the slider to exit the water and bask though, since they do enjoy soaking up the heat and UV rays.

Red eared slider turtles are very commonly available at pet stores, but you can also purchase one from Backwater Reptiles.

Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera)

Softshell turtles in general are flat, with snooty noses, and leathery, pancake-like shells. They get their common name from the pliable, soft nature of their shells.

The Eastern Spiny Softshell turtle is a brown, tan, or olive-colored turtle with dark speckles on its carapace. It’s shell is also trimmed around the circumference with small, spines, hence its common name.

hatchling spiny softshell turtle — Hatchling Eastern spiny softshell turtles can fit in the palm of your hand, but they will get quite large.

Like the red eared slider, the spiny softshell turtle will grow quite large and will require a large, aquatic enclosure at maturity. It should be noted that a big difference between the enclosures of a standard/non-softshell turtle and a softshell turtle is that a softshell’s tank shouldn’t have any hard, rough, or jagged surfaces that the turtle can brush against. Due to the soft nature of their carapaces, softshells can easily scratch themselves and even get infections, so you’ll want to make sure that all tank decor is smooth and unimposing.

You can have a spiny softshell turtle of your very own. Purchase today from Backwater Reptiles.

Reeves Turtle (Mauremys reevesii)

We recommend Reeves turtles to hobbyists who would like an aquatic turtle with similar habits and care requirements as a slider, but who would like their turtle to stay small and manageable. Smaller turtle = smaller tank.

Reeves turtles are considered mid-size turtles. Very large adults have been reported to reach nine inches in length, but most won’t surpass six inches. Their life span is anywhere from ten to twenty years.

The diet of a Reeves turtle is simple. They are omnivores who are perfectly content to eat pre-packaged turtle pellets or frozen aquatic worm pellets like blood worms. They will also enjoy live insects such as night crawlers, crickets, or roaches.

Ready to bring home a mid-size turtle of your own? Backwater Reptiles sells Reeves turtles.

Razorback Musk Turtle (Sternotherus carinatus)

Of all the aquatic turtles on our list, we’d say that the razorback musk turtle is the shyest by nature. They prefer to hide out, whether that be in aquatic plants or in a hide designed specifically for them.

Razorbacks also have very interesting physical traits. They get their common name from a very distinctive sharp keel or ridge running down the center back of their carapace. Their skin color is beige or olive with dark polka dot-like accent spots.

Because musk turtles in general are not known to bask a lot, you can expect that your razorback will not come out to soak up UV rays all too frequently. However, as with all aquatic turtle species, it is an absolute necessity to provide areas where the turtle can completely emerge from the water if it so desires.

If you would enjoy a quiet, shy aquatic turtle, Backwater Reptiles sells hatchling Razorback Musk Turtles.

Conclusion

If you enjoy aquatic set ups and you want to add a pet turtle to your home, we feel that any of the turtles on this list would be great to start out with.

Each of these aquatic turtles has its own unique physical traits and habits, but we think that each is just as rewarding a pet as the last.

Most Docile Pet Snake Species

March 11, 2016March 11, 2016 ~ BackwaterReptiles

You might have heard that snakes have unpredictable temperaments. Perhaps this notion is preventing you from getting a pet snake of your own? Well, while it is true that certain species are prone to aggressiveness, there are many species that are generally docile and take to human handling quite well.

We’ve had tons of experience handling thousands of different snakes, from small species to true giants. So, in this blog article, we’re going to list the top four most docile pet snakes based upon decades of dealing with reptiles.

All of the below species are of course non-venomous.

Ball Python (Python regius)

Most snake enthusiasts can’t get enough of ball pythons. In fact, we’d even go so far as to say that ball pythons are the friendliest, most easy-going snake species we’ve had the pleasure of working with daily.

List of most docile pet snakes — This is a standard ball python, but they are bred to be many different colors. They’re one of the most docile snakes you’ll ever find.

Most ball pythons are pleased to be taken out of their enclosure and held. They’ll often curl up into little “snake balls” and just sit comfortably in your hands, thus their name. They’re real sweethearts as far as snakes are concerned.

Another great trait of ball pythons is that because they are so readily available as captive bred animals, they rarely suffer from health problems and are parasite free. Let’s not forget to mention that captive breeding efforts also produce a multitude of beautiful color morphs and unique patterns.

Ball pythons are easy to keep too. There are endless quality care sheets available on the Internet, but suffice it to say, they require a water dish, hide spot, some bedding (we use aspen mulch), and a heat source.

If you’re wondering exactly how to heat them, we use a simple low wattage heat pad underneath about a third of the enclosure. This allows your pet snake to thermoregulate on its own. In other words, it allows your snake to get warm, or cool down, as it sees fit.

Heat is very important for pet snakes because without sufficient heat, they can’t digest their food properly and will either refuse to eat, or will regurgitate when they do attempt to eat. We aim for a surface temperature of the floor of the warm area inside the enclosure of 90F-95F. You can use an inexpensive temp gun to easily determine the surface temperature.

If you want a “cuddly” snake, Backwater Reptiles has many ball python morphs for sale. These are perhaps the most popular pet snakes in the world, and for good reason.

Kenyan Sand Boa (Eryx c. loveridgei)

We highly recommend Kenyan sand boas (AKA East African sand boas) as pet snakes because of their small, manageable size. Sand boas only get to be about two feet long at their biggest and rarely surpass the diameter of a jumbo-size Sharpie marker.

They have relatively long life spans too, averaging 20 years, with reports of some living beyond the age of 30! This means you’ll potentially have your pet reptile’s companionship for decades.

pet kenyan sand boa — This is a black and white Kenyan sand boa. This species makes an excellent pet snake.

Kenyan sand boas are stocky, sturdy little snakes with small heads and short tails. Like ball pythons, they are also available in a variety of color morphs.

Sand Boas are extremely passive snakes that prefer to spend most of their time hiding underground or burrowed underground. It’s important that you provide your Kenyan sand boa with an appropriate substrate. Most people assume sand is the best substrate, and while sand is fine, you can also use coconut fiber, aspen bedding, and even newspaper.

These boas are almost always captive bred, which means you’re starting with a clean slate, so-to-speak. Their range in the wild is very extensive, from Africa to the Middle East. They’ve even been found at elevations nearly a mile high.

Kenyan sand boas can be fed thawed pinkie mice as babies, then more appropriately sized thawed mice as they mature. In the wild, they’ve been known to even eat lizards and small birds. They burrow into the substrate and lay-in-wait for prey items. These are constrictor snakes.

If you want a small, friendly snake, Backwater Reptiles has Kenyan sand boas available today and ready to ship immediately. If you get a pair, you may even get babies! These snakes are live-bearing, meaning they don’t lay eggs, they give birth to living baby snakes.

California King Snake (Lampropeltis g. californiae)

King snakes can make absolutely excellent pets and are readily available both through breeders and at pet stores. You can even capture them in the wild within the U.S., but because captive bred animals are always healthier and tamer, we highly recommend purchasing one from a reputable source.

King snakes can be a bit on the larger side. Most will be around three to four feet long, but they can get up to six feet long in some instances. Although, please note that they aren’t thick snakes, so while their length can be long, they never achieve a size that’s challenging to manage. Their life span in captivity can exceed 20 years.

Although the more common pet king snake morphs will be shades of black and white, there are many interesting colors available. In our opinion, the most unique are the lavender morphs, which have purple tones in their skin.

If you want to learn more about king snake morphs, feel free to check out an article we wrote a while back that goes into detail about the most popular king snake morphs.

Interestingly, California king snakes are also found in Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Mexico, so they’ve got a pretty extensive range.

King snakes are diurnal, which means they’re active during the day. However, in the wild they often lay on blacktop roads at nighttime to absorb the heat from the day. This of course can pose a problem if the road is active.

I recall driving home from dinner one warm evening in the Fall. We were turning into our neighborhood and my wife noticed a large snake laying on the road. I swerved to avoid it, and pulled over to take a look.

It was a beautiful California king snake, around five-feet in length, and looked to be in good shape. In other words, it hadn’t been run over. I coaxed it off of the road, and it slithered off into the bushes.

We’ve also seen a pair of king snakes mating on a warm road. They looked like two intertwined ropes rolling across the blacktop. It was definitely a sight to behold.

In the wild, these snakes are actually known to eat baby turtles, birds, eggs, frogs, lizards, rodents, and…other snakes. Yep, king snakes are notorious snake-eaters.

In fact, California king snakes are natural Rattlesnake predators. They’ll attack and consume large rattlers, despite being bitten. The reason? They have an extreme tolerance to Rattlesnake venom.

We’ve put king snakes on our list of most docile snakes because while they can be squirrelly as hatchlings, they rarely bite or strike at people intentionally. They are speedy, but once you get them out of their enclosure and start handling them, they interact well with people.

If you are interested in a pet king snake, Backwater Reptiles sells healthy, captive bred hatchlings and adults of all types.

Corn Snake (Elaphe g. guttata)

Corn snakes are just as readily available in the reptile market as king snakes are, and probably more so. In fact, corn snakes and king snakes have a lot in common. Both species have similar care requirements, both grow to be about the same size, and both can be purchased in a seemingly endless number of morphs.

pet corn snake hatchlings — This photo depicts various morphs of some of our hatchling corn snakes. This species can make an exceptional pet snake.

As far as temperament is concerned, corn snakes are relatively docile. Hatchlings are known for being a bit nippy, but as they mature and get used to being handled, they become much more tame.

It should be noted that although hatchlings might strike at first, their bites can’t really break the skin or hurt a person because their mouths and teeth are so tiny. It’s actually pretty cute!

Corn snakes are relatiely easy to breed, and females can lay anywhere from 10-30 eggs. The incubation period is quite short, right around two months. Babies are beautiful and active.

This species was given its name because their bellies resemble the colors of Indian corn. Their a diurnal species just like the King snakes, and they are known to climb trees regularly.

Backwater Reptiles sells a variety of corn snake morphs ranging from albino to crimson.

Conclusion – The Most Docile Pet Snakes

If you want a snake that’s easy to care for with a laid back personality, we highly recommend any of the above listed species on our list of the most docile pet snakes. You really can’t go wrong with any of them!

Best Pet Reptiles for Beginners

February 9, 2016May 3, 2022 ~ BackwaterReptiles

Many people ask us what the best pet reptiles are for beginners and we generally recommend animals that are simple to care for, non-aggressive, and visually appealing. Lizards, snakes, turtles, and tortoises can make very rewarding pets, even though they’re not furry or cuddly like a typical cat or dog. They’re also surprisingly intelligent.

So if you’re considering a pet reptile of your own, but you’re unsure what species would be best for you, read on to find out our top five best pet reptiles for beginners.

The Best Pet Reptiles for Beginners

Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius)

Leopard geckos make some of the best pet reptiles in the world. They’re adorable, desert-dwelling lizards that grow to a very manageable size. They will reach around 7-10 inches in length and can live over twenty years! Usually, females will live an average of ten years, while males will live considerably longer.

Leopard geckos are visually stunning little critters that are bred in a variety of color morphs. You can find leopard geckos that are bright orange, pure white, and even black and white speckled!

The patterns and colors in the many morphs can be stunning and leopard gecko parents have many options when it comes to the physical appearance of their gecko.

The best pet reptiles for beginners — Leopard geckos are absolutely some of the best pet reptiles for beginners. The above leopard gecko morph is called a “Super Snow.” They’re black and white and highly sought after.

Leopard geckos also have very simple care requirements. They don’t need a lot of space to be happy – just a few places to hide or burrow. You can use substrate as simple as paper towels in their cage, or you can decorate elaborately and even buy neat colored sand from pet stores.

Feel free to check out our step by step guide on setting up leopard gecko habitats if you are so inclined. They also do extraordinarily well in captivity, being very undemanding, tough pet reptiles. Almost every Leopard gecko available on the market is captive bred, which is a nice bonus.

Crickets, mealworms, and reptiworms are all good food for leopard geckos. They have strong appetites, but are not necessarily gluttons. You should allow them to eat as many insects as they can in a fifteen minute sitting and then remove the excess from their cage.

Looking for a fun breeding project? If so, you couldn’t choose a better lizard. Leopard geckos are avid breeders and it takes no effort at all–just keep a male with a female and she’ll start laying eggs.

They often have very amiable personalities, and aggression is almost unheard of for pet Leopard geckos. Definitely on the short-list of the best pet reptiles for beginners. We’ve got many morphs available for you to choose from on our Leopard gecko page.

Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps)

Bearded dragons are another lizard species that are available in a variety of gorgeous color morphs. Keep in mind that the more uncommon or rare the morph of the bearded dragon is, the more expensive it will be. Morphs of the lizard strictly reflect the color or the animal and not its temperament, health, or care requirements.

Normal Morph Bearded Dragon — This is a “normal” bearded dragon, meaning that it has not been bred to express any special color variety.

Beardies can get quite large, sometimes up to 24-inches, but 18-20 inches is much more common. This means they reach a solid, but extremely manageable size.

They’re usually little piggies when it comes to meal time. Most will eat whenever they’re offered food, even if they’re not hungry, so just be sure to watch your beardie’s diet as you don’t want it to get obese.

Probably the best feature about bearded dragons is their docile nature. Beardies are quite happy to be taken out of their cage and played with regularly. They seem to seek out interaction and very rarely bite (we’ve never been bitten by one). Lots of people will even walk around their house with their beardie on their shoulder like a parrot!

Bearded dragons can also make great breeding projects, as they’re prolific breeders and do extremely well in captivity.

Bearded dragons are originally from Australia, home to some of the coolest reptiles in the world. However, exportation of live reptiles is now illegal, so you can rest assured your U.S. Bearded dragon is captive bred. Check out our Bearded dragon page to see our selection.

Corn Snake (Elaphe g. guttata)

No conversation about the best pet reptiles for beginners would be complete without talking about Corn snakes. If you’ve never had a pet snake before, we highly recommend a corn snake. Like the lizard species mentioned above, corn snakes are available in many different color morphs.

Not only are they relatively inexpensive, they usually possess pretty docile temperaments and are nearly always captive bred. They will attain a manageable size (usually around 5 feet long) and live for approximately ten years.

This is a collage demonstrating a few of the corn snake morphs.

Like most pet snakes, you will need to feed your corn snake mice. You can choose to feed your snake thawed or living specimens, but we prefer frozen (then thawed) for the convenience and safety of the snake.

Aside from eating mice, corn snakes will thrive in a twenty gallon tank with minimal furnishings. They really only need a heat lamp and belly heat source, water dish, hide space, and substrate that allows for burrowing.

We’ve got quite a variety of Corn snake morphs for you to choose from on our website.

Sulcata Tortoise (Geochelone sulcata)

In general, tortoises are popular pet reptiles because they can be kept outside in places where the weather permits. This is appealing to many pet owners because the tortoise’s natural habitat can be replicated very closely and no real cage or terrarium is required.

Just keep in mind that because baby tortoises are more delicate, they should be kept indoors until reaching a reasonable size. Their shells aren’t as hardened and thick as their larger counterparts, meaning they can dehydrate a bit quicker and can’t thermoregulate as easily.

baby sulcata tortoise — This is a baby Sulcata tortoise. They start out about the size of a golf ball and will grow to weigh around 200 pounds!

Sulcatas are pretty easy to come by in the pet trade, and many people are attracted to them because of their vegetarian nature. There is no need to keep live insects on hand as Sulcatas eat leafy greens, grasses, and other veggies.

They grow quickly, and a baby should attain a shell-length of around 3-4 inches after one year. They reach breeding size at around 12-inches.

Tortoises also live for a very long time. In fact, Sulcata tortoises can live for 150+ years! Yes, you read that correctly. We’ve got these captive bred beauties available on our website today.

Box Turtles (Terrapene sp.)

Like tortoises, Box turtles will thrive in an indoor terrarium or an outdoor environment with the proper weather conditions. If you have your box turtles outdoors, we do recommend some sort of pen be built to house them in as they do enjoy roaming and if you’re not careful, they could roam right out of your yard! They also enjoy digging and are very good at it.

Box turtles are omnivores and will eat pretty much anything you provide them. When kept outdoors, they will graze on your yard grasses and plants, but they will also consume crickets and other invertebrates. Baby Box turtles tend to be a bit more carnivorous, while the adults are more omnivorous.

We highly recommend Box turtles for first time reptile owners because they are such low maintenance reptile pets. They don’t bite, they don’t need constant attention or care, and they can pretty much take care of themselves. If you keep pairs, you might even get baby box turtles without even realizing your animals have bred! We’ve received many sets of eggs from our’s.

Check out our selection of pet turtles today.

three toed box turtles — These are “B-grade” box turtles which have cosmetic blemishes but are otherwise perfectly healthy animals. We think they deserve good homes just as much as their unblemished brethren.

The Best Pet Reptiles for Beginners – Conclusion

There are so many great pet reptiles on the market today that picking a good one for a beginner can be a challenge, which is why we put together this helpful article.

We feel that the five animals listed above are all amazing first time herp owner options whether you’re in the market for a lizard, snake, tortoise, or turtle. These species have an established track record of being easy to keep and long-lived, with great personalities.

We have all of these reptiles available for sale on our website.

How to Care for Your Flying Dragon (Draco volans)

February 1, 2016February 1, 2016 ~ BackwaterReptiles

In this article we’re going to explain to you information on Flying dragon care and setup as a reptile pet. They’re definitely one of the most fascinating creatures on the planet, and definitely a favorite with our customers!

The Flying dragon (Draco volans) is a species of agamid lizard that is also known as the Flying Lizard and the Flying Draco. These lizards are brown to dark brown in color with some darker overlay patterns. Males have a yellow-ish dewlap and females tend to have a blue dewlap. They will grow to be about eight inches long.

They are unique and interesting pet lizards because they have “wings” that allow them to glide from tree to tree in the wild. These wings are not true wings, but rather a ribbed membrane attached to the side of the dragon’s body that spread out like a fan.

Flying dragon care — When a flying dragon spreads its membranous “wings,” the colors that show through are quite spectacular. We detail their care in this blog post.

The Flying Dragon is not a pet lizard you commonly see. Although these lizards are not extremely difficult to care for, they aren’t that easy to come by. We do not recommend these lizards be kept by beginners, although herpers with some experience (and space to house them) will find them to be rewarding pets.

Flying dragons come from the Philippines, western Malaysia and also widely across the Indo-Pacific islands. They prefer to live in forested areas with lots of trees and foliage and rarely descend to the ground.

When their wings are extended, bright colors are displayed, which makes it easier to determine the dragon’s gender. When the wings are not in use, the dragon keeps them folded closely against its body, giving the lizard a long, slender appearance.

In the wild, flying dragons will eat mostly termites and ants, but in captivity, they can be taught to eat crickets, mealworms, and flies as a staple diet. It’s always wise to offer a bit of variety in order to make sure your dragon gets all the nutrients and vitamins it needs.

Flying dragons should always have access to a water dish. We also recommend misting their enclosure regularly as they do come from moist and tropical environments.

If you want to see your dragon fly, you must provide it with enough space. Due to their arboreal nature, you should provide an enclosure that is tall as well as wide. There will need to be plenty of sturdy plant life and foliage inside the enclosure with enough space between them to allow the dragon room to stretch its wings.

It is generally acceptable to house two or three females together, or even one male with several females. This will encourage the male to perform territory and mating rituals which can be entertaining to watch. When the male encounters a female, he will extend his wings and dewlap and try to make himself look larger. He will also bob his head to display his dominance.

We do not advise keeping multiple males in one enclosure as it will cause them undue stress. They might even injure one another.

In general, flying dragons are somewhat secretive. Although they’re not aggressive, they usually don’t enjoy being handled and will do much better if left to their own devices in their enclosures.

As previously mentioned, flying dragons are arboreal and don’t descend to the ground often. The only behavior that has been observed where they go to the ground by choice is when a gravid female lays her eggs.

The female will dig a hole with her snout and proceed to lay a clutch of approximately five eggs. After the eggs have been deposited in the ground, the female will cover them and remain with them for a day or so. The eggs will hatch in about a month’s time.

draco volans care — Flying dragons use their wings to glide from tree to tree and in territorial displays. They look like they’re part lizard, part butterfly, don’t they?

Conclusion

While flying dragons make impressive and fascinating pets, they are not for everyone or for beginners.

Due to their arboreal nature, they need an enclosure that is built like with an arboreal style so they have room to glide and hide. This means a wide and tall cage will be needed.

In addition, flying dragons can be secretive and are not great pets for someone who would like to handle their reptile often.

If you are ready to care for your own flying dragon, Backwater Reptiles does have these beautiful and unique gliding lizards for sale.

Backwater Reptiles Blog

Over 250 Articles for Herp Enthusiasts

Species Profiles

Pet Green Iguana Care

Best Pet Aquatic Turtles

Best Pet Aquatic Turtles

Red Eared Slider (Trachemys s. elegans)

Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera)

Reeves Turtle (Mauremys reevesii)

Razorback Musk Turtle (Sternotherus carinatus)

Most Docile Pet Snake Species

Best Pet Reptiles for Beginners

Best Pet Reptiles for Beginners

The Best Pet Reptiles for Beginners

How to Care for Your Flying Dragon (Draco volans)